Pepato is a pecorino which originates from Sicily. This wheel of cheese has liberal quantities of whole black peppercorns strewn horizontally throughout the middle. Like in-canestrato, it’s hard, off-white to brown rind is ridged with the imprint of woven moulds (once made of straw, now of wire) in which it is formed.

Pepato is available aged for at least a year, the pate of older Pepato will be rock hard, a darkish straw colour, and its flavour will be piquant and sheepy.